The concept of complete dentistry

What is it about?

There is an awakening going on in dentistry today. The “tooth dentists” of yesterday are slowly but surely being transformed into physicians of the total masticatory system. And it is a transformation that is long past due.Expanding the scope of dentistry in no way minimizes the importance of the teeth as a primary focus. It actually raises the bar for dentists to better understand why the interrelationship between the teeth and the rest of the masticatory system structures is so critical. A dentist who does not understand how important the relationship is between the teeth, the TMJs, and the total masticatory neuromusculature can be no better than a mediocre “tooth dentist”. A practitioner who ignores the relationship of the airway to various types of dental malocclusions deprives patients of a potential life-changing treatment. If the relationship between occlusal disharmony and orofacial pain is ignored patients suffer needlessly. (And dentists fail to satisfy patients who are less than happy with their treatment results).

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